MOSCOW: Russian air defenses on Friday downed a Ukrainian drone as it flew toward an unspecified target in Moscow, the defense ministry said, the latest in a flurry of drone attacks on the Russian capital.
Earlier, Moscow’s Vnukovo airport and Kaluga airport, some 150 km (95 miles) southwest of the capital, were temporarily shut due to a suspected drone flight. They later reopened.
.”.. an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a facility in Moscow was thwarted,” the ministry said in a statement, adding the drone was jammed and crashed in a forest west of Moscow.
“There are no casualties and no damage,” it said.
Earlier, Vnukovo airport said it had been compelled to suspend all flights “for reasons beyond the control of the airport,” adding that some flights had been redirected to other airports in the Moscow region. It gave no further information.
Flights later resumed at both Vnukovo and Kaluga airports.
Drone air strikes deep inside Russia have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Civilian areas of the capital were hit later in May and a Moscow business district was targeted twice in three days earlier this month.
Russia said on Thursday that it had downed 13 Ukrainian drones seeking to attack Moscow and also the largest city in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
In recent days, Ukrainian remotely piloted boats, also referred to as drones, have attacked a Russian fuel tanker and a navy base at Russia’s Novorossiysk port on the Black Sea.
Ukraine typically does not comment on who is behind attacks on Russian territory, although officials have publicly expressed satisfaction over them.
Russia downs Ukrainian drone west of Moscow, two airports reopen
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Russia downs Ukrainian drone west of Moscow, two airports reopen
- Moscow’s Vnukovo airport and Kaluga airport were shut due to suspected drone flight
India’s parliament set to debate controversial law on Muslim endowments
The government says the changes will help to fight corruption and mismanagement while promoting diversity
SRINAGAR, India: India ‘s parliament on Wednesday began discussing a controversial proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government to amend laws governing Muslim land endowments in the country.
The bill would add non-Muslims to boards that manage waqf land endowments and give the government a larger role in validating their land holdings.
The government says the changes will help to fight corruption and mismanagement while promoting diversity, but critics fear that it will further undermine the rights of the country’s Muslim minority and could be used to confiscate historic mosques and other property from them.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill on Wednesday, which would reform a 1995 law that set rules for the foundations and set up state-level boards to administer them.
Debate in the parliament’s Lower House is expected to be heated as the Congress-led opposition is firmly against the proposal. Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party does not have a majority but may be able to depends on allies to pass the bill. Both BJP and the Congress have asked their lawmakers to be present in the House.
If passed, the bill will need to clear the Upper House before it is sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent to become a law.
Many Muslim groups as well as the opposition parties say the proposal is discriminatory, politically motivated and an attempt by Modi’s ruling party to weaken the minority rights.
The controversial bill was first introduced in parliament last year, but was later sent to a committee of lawmakers for discussion after opposition parties raised concerns. The committee’s report was tabled in both houses of parliament on Feb. 13 amid protests by opposition leaders who said that their inputs were ignored. The government claims that opposition parties are using rumors to discredit them and block transparency in managing the endowments.
What’s a waqf?
Waqfs are a traditional type of Islamic charitable foundation in which a donor permanently sets aside property — often but not always real estate — for religious or charitable purposes.
Waqfs in India control 872,000 properties that cover 405,000 hectares (1 million acres) of land, worth an estimated $14.22 billion. Some of these endowments date back centuries, and many are used for mosques, seminaries, graveyards and orphanages.
Law would change who runs waqfs
In India, waqf property is managed by semi-official boards, one for each of the country’s states and federally-run union territories. The law would require non-Muslims to be appointed to the boards.
Currently, waqf boards are staffed by Muslims, like similar bodies that help administer other religious charities.
One of the most controversial amendments is the change to ownership rules, which potentially could impact historical mosques, shrines and graveyards under the waqf. It could change the ownership rules of many of these properties which lack formal documentation as they were donated without legal records decades, and sometimes, even centuries ago.
Questions about title
Other changes could impact historic mosques, whose land is often held in centuries-old waqfs.
Hindu radical groups have targeted mosques across the country and laid claim to several of them, arguing they are built on the ruins of important Hindu temples. Many such cases are pending in courts.
The law would require waqf boards to seek approval from a district level officer to confirm waqfs’ claims to property.
Critics say that would undermine the board and could lead to Muslims being stripped of their land. It’s not clear how often the boards would be asked to confirm such claims to land.
Fears among Muslims
While many Muslims agree that waqfs suffer from corruption, encroachments and poor management, they also fear that the new law could give India’s Hindu nationalist government far greater control over Muslim properties, particularly at a time when attacks against the minority communities have become more aggressive under Modi, with Muslims often targeted for everything from their food and clothing styles to inter-religious marriages.
Last month, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its annual report that religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate while Modi and his party “propagated hateful rhetoric and disinformation against Muslims and other religious minorities” during last year’s election campaign.
Modi’s government says India is run on democratic principles of equality and no discrimination exists in the country.
Muslims, which make 14 percent of India’s 1.4 billion population, are the largest minority group in the Hindu-majority nation but they are also the poorest, a 2013 government survey found.
UK baby killer Letby’s lawyer to present new evidence in bid to clear her name
- “The fresh evidence I will hand in to the CCRC tomorrow totally undermines the prosecution case at trial,” McDonald said
- The CCRC has said it is assessing Letby’s application but has not given a timeframe for any decision
LONDON: A lawyer for nurse Lucy Letby said he would present new evidence on Thursday to the commission which considers miscarriages of justice, saying it undermined the case against the British nurse convicted of murdering seven babies in her care.
Letby was jailed in 2023 for the remainder of her life after being found guilty of murdering the newborns and attempting to murder eight more between June 2015 and June 2016 while working in the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in northern England.
Letby, 35, Britain’s worst serial child killer of modern times, has maintained her innocence throughout but has been refused permission to appeal against her convictions.
However her case has become a cause celebre after medical experts, media and other supporters challenged the prosecution case used to convict her, and said that evidence suggested no babies were murdered.
Her lawyer Mark McDonald said on Wednesday he would hand over an 86-page report by leading medical specialists to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), saying it cast serious doubt on the trial’s key findings about two of the children, known as Babies F and L.
The court’s conclusion that the babies were poisoned using insulin was key to the prosecution proving she had committed murder.
“The fresh evidence I will hand in to the CCRC tomorrow totally undermines the prosecution case at trial,” McDonald said. “This is the largest international review of neonatal medicine ever undertaken, the results of which show Lucy Letby’s convictions are no longer safe.”
The CCRC has said it is assessing Letby’s application but has not given a timeframe for any decision.
Meanwhile police are still investigating Letby and hospital managers, saying her previous appeals about flawed evidence have been rejected. The head of a public inquiry into the deaths has also rejected calls for her investigation to be paused.
Philippines steps up disaster preparedness in wake of deadly Myanmar quake
- Philippine officials are warning of a 7.2-magnitude quake that could kill up to 50,000 people
- Officials are working to improve building resilience across the country to withstand earthquakes
Manila: Philippine officials are calling for enhanced disaster preparedness following the massive earthquake in Myanmar, warning that the archipelago nation is at risk of a devastating seismic event.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, lies along the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where the majority of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
For the past decade, the Philippine government has been preparing for the “Big One,” a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that experts say could impact Manila and its surrounding areas.
“We must double our efforts, especially as the Philippines is at risk for the ‘Big One’— a potentially catastrophic earthquake that could result in 30,000 to 50,000 casualties,” Ariel F. Nepomuceno, administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, has said.
“The most critical step in enhancing our earthquake preparedness is to implement engineering solutions, such as retrofitting essential structures like schools and health centers.”
The 7.2-magnitude earthquake forecast by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology was based on historical records of fault movements, as seismic events are impossible to predict.
Philippine officials have been calling for increased disaster preparedness after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit central Myanmar on Friday killed more than 2,700 people, injured more than 4,500 others, and destroyed scores of buildings.
“We’re part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and every now and then we have earthquakes, we’ll be jolted by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and sometimes tsunamis. And for all these disasters, the best course of action is always preparedness,” PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
“We have to make sure that our buildings, our houses are earthquake resilient — meaning, we have to follow the minimum engineering standards when we construct our houses or buildings.”
In the Manila capital region, at least 124 public buildings have been retrofitted, or strengthened to make it more earthquake-resistant, with plans to do so for 500 more, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The Department of Science and Technology, which presides over PHIVOLCS, is also planning to hold earthquake seminars in different parts of the country this year, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense is working on improving the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill by adding more scenarios, including nighttime drills and tsunami preparedness.
One of the deadliest recorded earthquakes in the Philippines took place in 1990, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 2,000 people in the country’s north.
Mixture of energy, solemnity during this year’s Arab American Heritage Month
- Israeli violence has ‘dampened’ celebrations, Arab America Foundation president tells Arab News
- Senator: ‘From culture and science to activism and business, Arab Americans continue to thrive and inspire’
Chicago: This year’s Arab American Heritage Month is being celebrated in a mixed atmosphere of energetic pride and solemn concern for events overseas, under the theme “Honoring the past, inspiring the future.”
Arab Americans used to celebrate at different times in different states, but the community came together in 2017 to consolidate the heritage month in April.
Leaders from around the country said this year’s celebrations have a solemn tone because of turmoil in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Warren David, president of the Arab America Foundation, told Arab News: “We’ll honor legendary songstress Umm Kulthum on the 50th anniversary of her passing. We’re also partnering with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for a special workshop on understanding Arabic music.”
He said an “exceptional” performance is being planned at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington D.C., entitled “Sounds of the Arab world” and featuring musician Nibal Malshi.
However, David acknowledged that Israeli violence “has dampened the celebration as many Arab Americans are distraught with the current situation — tragic loss of life, no ceasefire, no plan for a Palestinian state. We hope to see a peaceful solution.”
He added that while Arab American Heritage Month is officially recognized by 20 US states, AAF is working to secure recognition from the remaining 30.
According to the Arab American Institute, there are about 3.5 million Arabs in the US, in all 50 states.
Major populations are located in 11 states: California, Michigan, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
To mark Arab American Heritage Month, AAI is hosting a celebration on April 3 at the Theater Alliance in Washington D.C., featuring playwright Kareem Fahmy and comedian Rola Z.
Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a video and statement on X saying: “Happy Arab American Heritage Month, Michigan. This month, we celebrate Michigan’s strong, proud Arab-American community.
“They have, and continue to make, immeasurable contributions to our state’s economy, culture and our future.
“Michigan is a stronger, better state because of the diverse groups of people who call it home. This month and all year long, let’s celebrate our friends and neighbors in this community.”
Several New York legislators, all Democrats, took to X to applaud Arab American Heritage Month.
New York City Assembly member Harvey Epstein said: “Let’s celebrate all that Arab-American culture brings to New York.”
New York State Sen. Pete Harckham said: “We acknowledge the amazing contributions of Arab Americans both nationally and here in New York.”
The month, he added, is “a time to celebrate the rich culture, contributions and history of Arab Americans who’ve enriched our communities and nation.
“From culture and science to activism and business, Arab Americans continue to thrive and inspire.”
New York State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said: “This Arab American Heritage Month, I celebrate Arab-American achievements and culture across the arts and sciences, in business and industry, in education and medicine, and in every branch of the military. These contributions enrich our nation and move us toward a brighter future.”
In Illinois, Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, told Arab News that celebrations are being planned with several elected officials including Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, who had her website and services brochures translated into Arabic.
The annual Arab American Festival and Miss Arab USA pageant, both in Arizona, are recognized as the largest Arab heritage celebrations nationwide, and attract communities from across the country.
Singapore detains two teenagers, one over plan to shoot mosques, other planned to join Daesh
- The 17-year-old male who was detained and subscribed to far-right extremist ideology
- The second detained youth was a 15-year-old female who wanted to marry a Daesh fighter
SINGAPORE: Singapore used an internal security law against two teenagers separately, one over plans to attack mosques and the other for wanting to fight in Syria alongside Daesh militants, authorities said on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old male was detained and subscribed to far-right extremist ideology, seeing himself as an “East Asian supremacist,” authorities said.
He wanted to shoot mosques and had unsuccessfully tried to buy guns, including from the United States, Malaysia and Thailand, the internal security department said.
The teenager wanted to “maximize casualties” and kill at least 100 Muslims, to outdo the 2019 Christchurch attack in which a gunman killed 51 worshippers in a mosque, it said.
Detained in March under the island’s Internal Security Act, he could be held for up to two years without trial.
He was identified following an investigation into an 18-year-old detained in December over similar far-right extremism, authorities said.
Authorities said they were concerned about youth radicalization in Singapore, and have used the Internal Security Act against 17 youth aged 20 and under since 2015.
That law allows suspects to be held for lengthy periods without trial, or to be given a restriction order limiting travel and Internet access, among other conditions.
Of the 17 detained in the past ten years, nine planned to carry out attacks in multi-racial Singapore, where 74 percent of residents are Chinese, 13.6 percent Malay, 9 percent Indian, and 3.3 percent is classified as other, according to population statistics.
The second detained youth was a 15-year-old female who wanted to marry a Daesh fighter and raise a pro-Daesh family or fight for the extremist group in Syria, said the internal security department.
She was issued with a restriction order in February.
“Self-radicalization can happen very quickly. In the case of the 15-year-old, it only took weeks. It is thus critical that the public be vigilant to signs that someone around us may have become radicalized,” said the internal security department.
